My special birthday gift – snow

Geppetto throughly enjoyed this winter, playing in the snowy farm fields.

My birthday’s on Saturday, and my family asked me over and over what I’d like to get this year. My very urban parents got worried when they saw my wish list: a cart to move tree branches, a splitting axe to cut firewood, a lawn aeration attachment for our tractor. So I had to add some other stuff before they disinherited me for insanity. :-)

Every time the wish list subject came up, though, I couldn’t stop thinking about our Berner Geppetto.

Last Fall, when Geppetto was diagnosed with inoperable bladder cancer, he suddenly got very sick. Some days, when he was peeing pure blood and barely walking on his own, I thought he was not going to make it through the week. During such desperate times, I never begged to God to give him another chance. I believe each of us have our time on this Earth and we cannot buy any more, no matter how awesome we are.

Geppetto trotting through the last patch of snow, yesterday.

But I did wish Geppetto could get better, so he could enjoy at least one more winter. He loves winter. If I let him, he’d stay out all day long eating snow and rolling in it. Freezing temperatures is all he wants for a perfect afternoon nap.

Yesterday I walked Frieda, Geppetto and Lola around the neighboring farm, and we crossed some of the last patches of snow in the fields. They were crunchy and quite dirty, but still lowered the air temperature around us. The dogs stopped to munch on it, soak their paws and enjoy the fresher air. I inhaled the cooler breeze as much as I could. That was most likely our last piece of winter this season.

Walking back home I felt a bit sad the snow is practically gone. Then I felt guilty for being sad (what a mess I am, huh!), since we were so lucky to have so much of it this year. We even got a late blizzard last week that dumped 3 feet of heavy snow in our backyard.

Then I remembered my wish and how lucky we are. Geppetto enjoyed one more winter with us AND feeling great — he’s been running around, wagging his tail, playing with his ball, alert and hungry. His medications and new diet seem to have stopped his tumor from growing and made him better. He made it.

Happy birthday to me.

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Rosemary

Your story today is beautiful! Geppetto looks so happy!
And have a wonderful Birthday Saturday! That’s from all of us here. My Birthday is just 2 weeks later on the 30th. So we share March as well as our love of all these awesome creatures!

http://www.taildom.com/ Daniela Caride

Thank you Rosemary! I’ll give Geppetto an extra kiss from you guys. And happy birthday to us!!! :-D

Susan

May your birthday be filled with the most luxurious memories that life can allow you to hold in your heart today and forevermore. Geppetto will have the most happiest life today and everyday with you, Daniela, because you are allowing it to happen for him and all the members of your family. Remember the birthdays he gave you endlessly and all the love he has and still is giving you. You are a very brave woman, Daniela. Happy Birthday to you on Saturday and everyday of the year. Do wish your little kitten sister in Brazil a wonderful birthday, too. Say hello to your beautiful parents. From my heart to your heart a huge hug is coming your way God’s Blessings to you and ALL your family members.

http://www.taildom.com/ Daniela Caride

Thank you so much, Susan! :-) We are planning on spending my birthday in the best fashion – all of us together at home, dogs, cats, Martin and I. I’ll buy my favorite cake and pizza, and enjoy the couch all day (with a long walk with the pups in the middle, of course).

:-)

Susan

I love Birthdays spent this way. Very simply, yet eloquent for the love of all hearts blended together as one family. There is no other way to spend valuable time together than as one. Enjoy everything above and beyond. Love to all of you and always !!!

http://www.taildom.com/ Daniela Caride

We have lots in common, Susan. :-) Thank you!!

http://www.facebook.com/marise.caetano Marise Caetano

I have tears rolling down my cheeks, Dani. These are sad tears for the inevitable end of life but also happy tears for the life Gepetto is enjoying. All I can wish is for him to have many more happy days and that when his time comes, may he go peacefully, without pain.

As for your, my friend, I wish a lovely birthday. To expend the day with your family, at home, is certainly priceless. Enjoy your day! xxx

http://www.taildom.com/ Daniela Caride

Thank you so much, Marise! You are always so sweet. I wish we humans could skip the whole sad part and just live in the present, enjoy the days we have. Oh well, reason can be a gift and a curse. But I’m happy I can be the one that will be there for Geppetto whenever he needs me. I can take the pain of knowing, as long as I can care for him and love him. :-) Thank you for your birthday wishes. It’s really wonderful to get a message from you and all such wonderful friends. :-)

Layla Morgan Wilde

Happy birthday Daniela! It looks like you got your birthday wish. The tail end of life with our pets are golden. Savor every moment!

http://www.taildom.com/ Daniela Caride

Thank you, Layla. Yes I did! And I’m happy. :-) Thank you for writing a message and sharing the joy of my birthday with me.

Cookies Mum

What a blessing you were brought into this world…your birthday..so many of us have benefitted from your loving and tender heart…your joyful humour..and your infinte compassion, be they two or fourlegged…..recipients….I was a veterinary technician for many years and witnessed many a transition, but also many miracles in seemingly hopeless cases….It is my prayer and my vision for you to be telling us stories of Geppetto for years to come…Happy Birthday, loving you.. (((sweet Daniela)))..Cookie cat sends purrs and love and a knowing wink to Geppetto…smiling xoxoxoxxox

http://www.taildom.com/ Daniela Caride

Aw, thank you so much, Cookies Mum! You made my day. <3

sjm55

You continue to move me with your stories and pictures. You take my heart and give it a strong squeeze and I know I’m still living life with my feelings in tact. Bless you and Happy Birthday! I pray you’ll share another with Gepetto; but, if not, I know you are the kind of mom who will cherish each and every memory you have of all your beautiful days together. You and Gepetto will continue to be in my prayers. Peace and love ~ Sharon

http://www.taildom.com/ Daniela Caride

Thank you so much, Sharon. What a wonderful thing to read on my birthday. You’re so sweet. Thank you for giving me strength and love. It’s a beautiful day out – a bit cold but I don’t mind it one bit. The dogs love it, by the way! So I’m going to go feed the cats, the dogs, the wild birds and enjoy my day. :-)

margaret

Daniela, Have you ever read the poem “The Power of The Dog” by Rudyard Kipling. Read it with a box of tissues.

http://www.taildom.com/ Daniela Caride

Oh my goodness, I just read it by your recommendation. It’s so so sad! I believe that all the joys that dogs bring us overcome the sorrows, don’t you? :-)

margaret

Daniela, I’m sorry, I didnt mean to make you sad especially today of all days. It’s just that when I read it, it spoke to me and was so true about the love & power of a dog. Of course, the dogs that I’ve had the privilege of caring for have brought me more joy than anything else in this world. The look in their big brown eyes, a warm furry body to cuddle with, a paw held out to you, a wagging tail when you come home after a weary day overcomes it all.The never ending patience, loyalty, love they have in them–I know that I could never live without one.God bless you and Geppetto.

Happy Birthday Daniela! Happy Winter Gepetto! All the very best to you.

http://www.taildom.com/ Daniela Caride

Thank you, Margaret! We enjoyed such a lovely day. :-)

http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=533954282 Melissa Durham Ortiz

My birthday was Sunday the 17th. I consider it a special gift to me, vicariously, that Gepetto is still with us, too, and making us all smile. Big hugs and happy birthday, Daniela!

http://www.taildom.com/ Daniela Caride

Aw, thanks so much,Melissa! You always so sweet with us. Happy birthday to you, my dear. And I have to tell you we got another blizzard this week here, so Geppetto got many more days of snow. We are thrilled! :-)

http://www.facebook.com/markw94404 Mark Wiley

I am glad that you get snow and I do not. I hate it and am thankful that we got so little this year.